Cabinet Secretary for Labour Simon Chelugui revealed that the Kenyan government distributed Kshs. 166.9 billion to 1,233,129 vulnerable households nationwide by year-end 2021. The funds targeted 353,000 orphans and vulnerable children, 833,129 elderly individuals, and 47,000 persons with severe disabilities across all 47 counties.
The UK government contributed a Kshs. 680 million grant to support a Digital Cash Transfer Programme for urban informal settlement residents. Chelugui emphasized this initiative, part of the Inua Jamii programme under Kenya Vision 2030's Social Pillar, aligns with constitutional provisions for social protection.
A review event held at the NSSF headquarters featured British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and Give Directly's Lydia Muya. Chelugui noted the programme's three-month duration would benefit 52,700 Nairobi and Mombasa residents, aiming to enhance livelihoods during economic recovery.
He highlighted pandemic-related challenges, including job losses and economic stagnation, which disproportionately affected informal workers and the unemployed. In response, the government allocated Kshs. 10 billion during the 2019/2020 financial year for emergency cash transfers amid lockdown measures in April 2021.